Storm first round pick taking one step at a time

Alison Lacey is beginning to show flashes of why the Storm drafted her 10th overall in the 2010 WNBA Draft.

“I think Alison has really come on since she got over her illness,” Storm head coach Brian Agler said. “She has had some good practices and she is playing and practicing well. She is getting better.”

Starting point guard Sue Bird said she is happy with what she is seeing out of Lacey.

“She is doing a great job,” Bird said. “I think early on in training camp and in the beginning of the season, she was a little tentative. Kind of didn’t want to be too assertive, but as a point guard, I think she realizes she has to. A lot of that has to do with comfort level.

“The more comfortable you get, the easier it is to tell people where to go and where they need to be. She is not necessarily a vocal leader, but you can definitely tell with her play that she is doing a much better job.”

With coming to the new team, Lacey said there were some adjustments that she needed to make.

“It’s process and there is a lot to take in,” Lacey said. “I’m coming from college and being in that system for four years, so to learn a completely new system and to get new coaches and players around you, it’s just a learning experience. I feel like lately I’ve kind of picked it up and kind of getting more comfortable.”

Before joining the Storm, Lacey, a native of Australia, attended Iowa State University, where she finished as an honorable mention All-American and an All-Big 12 first-team member during her senior year. She concluded her career as only the seventh player in Big-12 history to score 1,500 points and to record 500 rebounds and 500 assists.

Coming from college to the WNBA, Lacey said the level competition is one of the biggest differences she has noticed.

“It’s a completely higher level,” Lacey said. “The pace is quicker, everyone is stronger and everyone is good. In college there might be two or three best players on a team, but here everyone is good. The level of play is extremely high.”

So far this season, Lacey has played in eight games and is averaging 4.4 minutes per game that she goes in.

Although she hasn’t gotten much playing time, Agler said he is noticing that she is getting more comfortable on the court.

“The last game she was in, she looked comfortable and looked like she should be there,” Agler said. “She looks that way in practice. I think earlier, she was a little timid and questioning herself. Now, I think she is playing with more confidence and a little bit more aggressive.”

In the offseason, Lacey said she will be going back to her hometown of Canberra, Australia, to play for a team there.